Spring Scream withdrawals? Still hurting but can’t fathom staying home all weekend? It’s true, Taipei has been lacking anything fresh, nothing exciting to do between dinner and going out — and not many late night alternatives if you’re not in the mood to go hard. Enter Brklyn — part gastropub and part lounge with a side of indie and electronica DJs.
Located next to the entrance of Elektro in the bustling Xinyi District clubbing Mecca, Brklyn will hold its soft opening this weekend. With over 20 beer taps and more than 200 imported beers that cannot be found anywhere else in Taiwan and a cocktail menu designed by former Ounce bartender Liam Baer, Brykln has covered all aspects of indulgent drinking. And a quick look at their Facebook page reveals a mouthwatering menu featuring things like scotch eggs, ribs and pulled pork sliders.
But Brklyn’s music policy is what will separate it from other imbibing establishments in the area
Photo courtesy of Korner
“Music you’re not going to hear anywhere else,” is how the owner puts it.
Before midnight, underground indie music will make up the playlist and from 12am to 4am on weekends, DJs will take over in a custom-designed DJ booth that’s been outfitted with a proper CDJ and mixer setup.
Jimmy Chen (陳怡成), Anti Hero and Josh Chen are set to play this weekend, and there are already a number of international DJ events lined up this month. While there is no dance floor, there is a pool table and conversations are encouraged. It sounds like the makings of an intelligent Saturday night out.
However, if after a few drinks you decide that it’s just not enough, head over to Korner and catch John Osborn. The UK-born, Berlin-based DJ has been at it for over 20 years, exploring all types of techno. His mesmerizing craft has awarded him residencies at Berghain’s Panorama Bar, where he says he drifts through the spaces that are found between genres — something that has come to define his unique sound.
Foremost a DJ, Osborne has seen the importance in producing and has begun making a foray into that world as a founding member of Tanstaafl Records with Eric Coultier and Julian ‘October’ Smith. It’s given him a well rounded but reversed approach to electronic music, and it also means he is one of the few to have spent this whole time perfecting only one skill — deejaying. It will be interesting to see how he holds his dance floor tomorrow night, when compared to the long list of Berlin-based DJs that Korner has hosted in the last year.
■ Brklyn soft opening party is today and tomorrow from 11:30am to 4am (expect the party to kick off after the dinner rush), 6F, 12 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路12號6樓). Admission is free.
■ John Osborn plays tomorrow from 11:30pm to 4am at Korner, B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tickets are NT$550 in advance and NT$650 at the door.
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